The announcement could take wearable devices, which technology
analysts say are the next wave of computing, out of the realm of
science fiction and into the mainstream by making them more
affordable and giving them a medical stamp of approval. And it opens
the door to a new level of cooperation between the health care and
consumer electronics industries, which could lead to a world in
which people wear or even ingest computers.

"The key business model of the year for wearables is becoming
embedded into the health care system," said J.P. Gownder, an analyst
studying wearable devices at Forrester, which predicts that
computers that people can ingest, tattoo on their skin or embed in a
tooth are three to five years from being a medical reality.

"Selling wearable consumer electronics one on one to individual
consumers is kind of a tough business," Mr. Gownder said. "By
embedding them into the health care system, you can reach a mass
market."

The agreement with VSP, which insures one-fifth of Americans, is
also a coup for Google, which plans to begin selling Glass to the
public this year. Resistance to Glass has grown from privacy fears
that the devices could be used to secretly record conversations or
take photos. Some establishments have banned Glass wearers, and just
this month, a man in Ohio was removed from a movie theater and
interrogated after wearing Glass to a movie. With traditional-style
frames and prescription lenses, which Glass did not have before, the
computer and screen for the device are less evident and the device
looks more typical -- and is available even to people who wear
glasses.

Some early Glass owners hacked Glass to add prescription lenses,
sunglasses and other accessories.

"What I've noticed in public is I get less interaction with
people" when wearing Glass with frames, said Steve Lee, product
management director for Google Glass. …